Electric switch.



No. 822,287. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

G. S. BARKELEW.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11.1904.

Witnesses: 7 5 Ientor EJXN QSW. We ym; WLSMM- Attorney sire. sra'rns CHARLES S. BARKELEW', OF MIDDLETOWN. OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO BARKELEW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MIDDLE) TOl/VN, OHIO.

ELECTRBC SWETGH.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed November 11, 1904. Serial No- 232,283.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. BARKE- LEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, (postoffice address Middletown, Ohio,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention, pertaining to electric ro switches, will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a construction exemplifying my invention; Fig. 2,

r 5 a side elevation of a portion of the same; Fig.

3, a vertical section in the plane of line a of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a perspective view of one of the moving contact-plates; Fig. 5, a side elevation of a portion of the structure in modi- 2o fied form; Fig. 6, a vertical section of the modified structure in the plane of line b of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 a perspective view of one of the contact-plates of the modified structure.

1 In modern practice with fuse provided 2 5 switches there are two general forms of fuses of standard'employment, understood as being underwriters standard fuses, In both cases the body of the fuse is generally cylindrical,

with metallic caps at the ends. ln 'on'e form,

3'0 designed fo r comparatively light service, the

contacts with the fuse are made directly with the periphery of the metal caps, While in the "form for heavier service the fuse has fiatsided metallic shanks projecting from its 3 5 ends, the receiving contact members engaging against the flat silles ofthese shanks.

n my improved switch the current controlled by the switch goes through a separable fuse, and I illustrate my invention as adapted for either form of standard fuse above referred to. For primary illustration I select the first type of fusethat is, the one in which the receiving members engaged the periphery of the circular caps of the fuse, sec- 4 5 ondary illustration being made of a modified form of the switch adapted for the other type .offuse-terminal.

In the drawings, excluding for the present Figs. 5, 6, and 7, 1 indicates the base of the switch; 2, a hinge member secured thereto and adapted to have one of the'circuit-terminals connected with it; 3, a contact member secured to the base and adapted to have the other circuit-terminal connected with it,

this contact member consisting of two blades -5 5 disposed parallel with each other and proj ecting from the face of the base; 4, a bar of insulating material, as vulcanite, having its heel end connected in a pivotal manner with the hinge member 2: 5, a pair of contactplates firml secured to the opposite aces of the free end of bar 4, parallel with each otherv and at such distance apart that they will enter snugly between the two blades of the contact member 3; 6, arms integrally formed with the contact-plates 5 and projecting upwardly therefrom and having concave inner surfaces, these arms extendin downwardly from the edges of the contact-pines and then curving outwardly and upwardly, whereby 7o the arms are given greater l'en th and correspending elasticity; 7', a han le, preferably of insulating material, connected with the free end of bar 4 8, a heel-block for the han dle, the same being notched over the outer edges of contact-plates 5; '9, a nut-block notched over the rear edges of the contact-. plates ;5; 10, a stud carried by the'handle and projecting through he'el-plateB and be-E tween contact-plates 5 and screwing into nut-plate 9, whereby the handle is firmly 'se' cured to the bar through the medium of the contact-plates; 11, the fuse, of generally cy. lindrical form and disposed parallel with bar 4; 12, theanetallic caps on the ends of the fuse, the capat-the' outer end of. the fuse en gaging and being grasped by the upper por-' tion of the arm 6 of the contactlates, while the cap at the inner end of the use engages similar arms formed on metallic hinge-pieces" 9o connecting bar 4 with hinge member2, the contact between the peripheries of the metallic caps of the fuse and the concave inner surfaces of the arms completing the connection from the hinge member 2 through the fuse to 5 the contact-plates 5 and when the switch is closed to contact member 3, and 13 the. metallic'pieces just referred to as connecting the heel of the bar 4 with the hinge member of the base and having arms to clip the inner car} of the fuse.

he operation and performance of the switch will be obvious. It will be observed that when the switch is closed the contactplates 5, with their arms, provide integral contact-surfaces of contact member .3 and the contact-surface of the fuse. The arms 6 i'esiiiency e01: the metallic esps center/ts 0? sin"- "tory fez curiO'tl'le strengt: 01' which fuses of i; we been deemed. suitable. infest that the "iefmed by l a, '11s necessitates 1 i 1 oi? the 311115 0"- t Jts between e, course tiemble degree of lateral dispijesent ease projected e entset-ni'ames and prepsi'allel with each te snugly engage the list 9 ilabsisieil. fuse-shank when the In the drawings iliusti'ating n the modified "term of i i-ins S'OfiEiZl-Zdflf 15, in this eenstiue'tion it we be observed that the biMlGS oi the con tent member 3 are at lineity to extend when i-ii V e si i is closed, even up be the top of the is which grip the 'fllS 3Sll&1Ti1S, thus getting of an extended of content. in eenstructien edepted for gripping L esp the 11 y the bent at menmei" 3 e'e-nld Of eo lirse'ext-snd as far up on the 0011- "es 5 as desired 03" eensistent with i' l-it 0; the eonteet-plates 5; but the it enacted by the Contact 11161IlbB1 3 kl in such case be at the same oute bar with the clips which en- The construction illustrated for the flat-faced luseslienls pern 'switch-iever beiiw shortened or of the let-faced fuse-shsn 1; iv e' when the s'witchis closed. is

sing stepping cie 11 blade switches parking tallies pl e the contact me y en ges I mean these leev eeeli other opened.

closed :1 these shes-ring edges byings x5e L mansion and iiniits their pioyinent es iinil eensti'uction 1 utilise t" member as e stag, but .ieffid to.

v A Iheve i'llustr stiuetion embed ie ebie member is my 11' on be? pivo e a l) ebvieusl a Dull; e to in 1v'l3jj3ll- 10 li?,11(ii3 is the two members of It is t0 obsers the eentae ii enough for i in preperly other pertiens 0i. tl against the side feces of the be? has rigidly meets thesi'de' thrust te tlie eellepsing pressure of tie contest E1 -i 31 3 the con noted. th ple Oi'liCG in elinp tact with the line it iiise with the be? liandle With the n 1 '1 elaiin as my inventi0n-+ v 1. In {use-carrier for en i the combination, substnntieliy as r of bar, a pair at cents tes eui'ecl to tlie oppesite feces el each and off the lea-i, each contaet-piete having a S11]l" adapted for rubbing engagement with a e operating contact member and lizwi i an integmlly-i'ormecl flexible resilient urn) u le ting the pair of contact inen'ibers i0 an the metallic terminal 0i the fuse, 2L him'l posed in general pi'eleng: tieii said bar, a stud cei'z'ietl l) projecting between the t the handle end the ban, posed upon sn id stud between the i'ltilt'lle' and the outer extremities of said cent-sew I and iLIl'llZ-JlO'Cli 11 Efl eggs:

' the inner en of Aid. stud, {)Ol sell wists: being slumped er-tween (i l1c-'ell)l0i'l 311d nutthe action 0i said stud. in s fuse-carrier for an electric the combination, substantially as set of :1 bar, a pair of contest-pistes ll eui'ecl'to the opposite feces Of e cl at if saa'ee'r bar, each contact plate having a surface adapted for rubbing engagement with a cooperating contact member and having an integrally-formed resilient arm adapting the pair of contact members to grasp the metallic terminal of the fuse, a handle disposed in general prolongation of one end of said bar, a

stud carried by said handle and projecting against.- each side of one end of said bar and.

having sin-faces adapted for rubbing contact with a cooperating contact member, each of said plates having an integrally-formed resili ent arm adapting the bar to grasp the metallic terminal of the fuse, said resilient'arms being disposed a distance inwardly of the end of. said bar, a nut-bar and a heel-bar clamping edgewise upon portions of said contactplates outwardly beyond said resilient arms, a handle projecting outwardly from said heelbar, and a stud carried by the handle and projecting through the heel-bar and between the contact-plates and screwing into the nutbar. l

4. In a fuse-carrier for electric switches, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a bar, a contact-plate rigidly secured against each side at each end of said bar, each of said plates having a surface adapted for rubbing contact with cooperating contact members and each plate having an integrallyformed, recurved resilient arm adapting the pair of plates at each end of the bar to clasp the metallic terminal of a fuse, a ivot engaging one pair of said bontact-plfttes and having its axis at right angles to said bar, and a handle secured to the other pair of said contact-plates by means of bars slotted to en age the edges of members of said plates in extending in general prolongation of the 5, In an electric switch, the combination of a movable member having a contactplate and a grooved handle-sup orting mem ber secured thereto, .and a Xed contact member having a fiat blade formed with a projecting shoulder adapted to be engaged by said handle-supporting member for the purpose of limiting the throw of the switch.

6. In an electric switch, a contact-plate "formed of sheet metal, having a member provided with apertures for securing said plate to a switch-bar, a widened portion adapted to engage a stationary contact member and having an upwardly-projecting part adapted to be enga ed by a handle-attaching memher, and a Ilexible clip for engaging a fuseterminal, consisting of a strip integral With said plate, projecting from one edge thereof and bent backward and upward so that it projects above the opposite edge of said plate, thereby providing a free spring action. 7 In a fuse-carrier for electric switches, the combination of a bar of insulating material and two contactplates, one secured to each side of one end of said bar and each having a portion adapted to engage a stationary contact, lying against the end of said bar, an upwardly-extending portion clear of said bar and adapted for the attachment of a handle, and a flexible clip projecting from said plate at a lower edge and curved back and upward and provided with a concave curve near its extremity, the clips of the two adjacent plates referred to serving by means of the said concave curved portions to engage the terminal of a fuse.

8. In a luse'carrier for electric switches, the combination of an insulating-bar, centact members at one end thereof comprising a plate on each side of said bar, each plate having a portion adapted to engage a stationary contact member and another portion bent into the form of a recurved spring-clip to contact with the terminal portion of a fuse, a similar upwardly-projecting portion on each of said plates, standing clear of said bar, a handle provided with a screw, and two blocks each confronting the opposite edges ofsaidfupwardly-projecting portion of said plates and provided with grooves engaging the edges of said plate portions.

9. A movable contact member for fusecarriers, composed of a sin le piece of sheet metal, having a part adapted to be secured to a switch-bar, a widened portion adapted to engage a stationary contact member and also adapted either to be pivotally secured thereto or to receive clamping members for securing a handle to said movable contact member, and a flexible part for engaging a fuse-terminal.

CHARLES S. BARKELEW.

Witnesses 1 M. S. BELDEN, E. R. SHIPLEY, 

